Locals rally to save businesses in Seaford after ‘devastating’ car crash

Jason's Barbers and Sue Bedford's ironing and dry-cleaning shop, The Iron Lady, on Sutton Road, Seaford were left ‘gutted’ after car crashed into both shops and caught fire on Sunday, September 20.

Phoebe Jenner, Jason’s daughter, who set up the fundraiser said: “It was incredibly shocking to see the way shop looks, it’s quite scary the realisation that your family business is gone.

“We now face the heartbreaking task of rebuilding his business from scratch, we also lost irreplaceable family memorabilia that belonged to my mother's late father.”

At the time of the accident Jason and his wife were on holiday when they got the call from police about what had happened. Jason owned and worked in the barbershop for 15 years but because it still remains taped of, Phoebe said he ‘won’t be able to get in for a very long time’.

Phoebe added: “He has to change location to a different shop because everything is shattered. Everything he has worked hard for in the past 15 years just gone in an instant.

“It’s really devastating for our family and I’m hoping we can move forward.”

Phoebe described that with the fundraiser they are hoping to just raise enough to replace Jason’s barber equipment and luckily he has a ‘very strong customer base will follow him anywhere else’.

Sue Bedford's ironing and dry-cleaning shop, The Iron Lady was also left ‘devastated’ after the car crash. Sue was also on holiday at the time of the accident and her friend has started a fundraiser to replace her equipment.

Sue, 55, was on holiday when she got the call about the incident, she said: “When I first found out I was beyond devastated. I cannot put into words how it feels. I am still now floored with it now.

“I had to drive past the shop and my whole body just went to shock. It just looks like a big black hole. It’s shocking.

"I have just been walking up and down still in shock. I’m 55 and I don’t have a pension.”

The cost of replacing all of the equipment was quoted at over £20,000 because of the commercial irons and washing machines she had in the shop.

Sue added about the fundraiser: “I have been inundated with kind words and support from people, it’s been really amazing and the support just makes me want to cry.”

Phoebe has raised over £80 towards a £1,800 target, and the other fundraiser has raised over £1,300 for Sue.

Sussex Police have confirmed the fire spread between the two shops, and officers are still trying to trace the driver of the car involved.

In a statement previously released Sussex Police said: “Officers are investigating, and are seeking to trace the driver of the Suzuki.

“They are also appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant information, including CCTV, doorbell, mobile phone and dashcam footage of the incident or anything suspicious in the area, to come forward.

“Anyone with information is asked to report it to Sussex Police online or call 101 and quote serial 149 of 20/09.”